TRAINING MARY 

A ONE- ACT PLAY 
Four Scenes 

By MARY SHAW PAGE 




Price 25 Cents 



Published by 

Eldridge Entertainment House 

FRANKLIN, OHIO 

Also 

DENVER, COLORADO 

944 So. Logan 



Some Bright New 

Christmas Material 



First Aid to Santa 



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2 girls and 10 acting dolls (girls and boys). Plays 30 
or 40 minutes. Price, 25c. 

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By Lillian Pearson. A pretty sketch for 14 or more 
children. The Christmas Angel shows her complete 
Christmas Chain to two selfish sisters with happy re- 
sults. Plays about 20 minutes. Price 25c. 

How the Christmas Song Was Found 

By Lillian Pearson. A simple, but beautiful sketch 
for any number of children, 12 required. Shows the 
real spirit of Christmas and tells how the glad 
Christmas song was found. Time, 20 to 30 minutes. 
For day schools or church entertainments. Price 25c. 

Mr. Richey Changes His Mind 

By Lee Owen Snook. Story of a crabbed, wealthy 
employer and how at Christmas time the memory of 
his mother changed his attitude toward his employes 
from that of a ^'driver" to a considerate comrade. An 
unexpected romance develops. 4 males, 4 females, 
and others, either high school or adults. Plays about 
20 minutes. Price, 25c. 

The Little Stranger 

A moving picture Christmas play, by Edna Randolph 
Worrell. This is really a pantomime, the different 
scenes being either announced or shown on screen by 
stereopticon. 4 scenes "The Night Before Christ- 
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ger at the Door," "The Little Stranger Entertains," 
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any number of children. Plays about 30 minutes. 25c. 

Ten Good Christmas Pantomimes 

By Ethel Eldridge. A collection that will add novelty 
and effectiveness to your progrEun. Specific direc- 
tions for pantomiming some well-known hymns, songs 
and recitations— "Silent Night," . "Little Town of 
- Bethlehem," "When Good Old Kris Comes 'Round," 
"Favorite Carols," etc. Contains the music also. 40c. 

Eldridge Entertainment House 

FRANKLIN, OHIO also DENVER, COLO. 

944 S. Logan St. 



^ Training Mary 

A ONE-ACT PLAY / 
Four Scenes 



By MARY SHAW PAGE ^ 



Price 25 Cents 



/ 



Copyright, 192 1, by Eldridge Entortainment House 



PUBLISHED BY 

ELDRIDGE ENTERTAINMENT HOUSE 

FRANKLIN, OHIO 

ALSO 

DENVER, COLO. 

944 So. Logan 



'FS(-'^i 



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-Fa-iS 



DEC 19 i9 



Q iQO 



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THP96-006873 : 



ICI.D 594 "4 



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SIX CHARACTERS 



William Warner 

AIarv, his zvifc 

James Strong, Sit[->eriutcndcnt of Schools 

Miss Dickinson, of the Teachers' Agency 

Miss Hennererrv, a superannuated Schoolnm'ani 

Doris Eldridge, a young Teacher 



Training Mary 



Place: Apartment 2F. Time: August. 

Scene 1 : Tastefully furnished liviiuj room. 

(Enter JVilliain, husband of Mary. Looks at zvaieh and eJoek 
and eonipares them.) 

William — Ho, hum! Always thought this was a woman's jol). 
My mother invariably wound the clocks. 

Mary — (outside) O no, Billy; that's a man's work. My 
father always wound all the clocks every Saturday morning, and 
set them, too ! 

William — Seven clocks to wind among our wedding presents — 
two for each room and one for the 1)ath ! Well, here goes ! How 
soon will you be ready, sweetheart? It is almost time for market. 

Mary — (outside) You'd better run along, dear. Don't wait 
for me. I can't 'find my pocketbook. 

William — "Lucy Locket lost her pocket I" How many times a 
day do you lose it, honey ? 

Mary — Well, I don't really lose it, Billy. I always find it in 
the end. Don't you know I do? 

IVilliam — Why don't you look in the end at ifirst, then, if 
that's where you always find it ? 

Mary — But it's hard to keep three pocketbooks going, as I 
have to, since we've started on the Budget plan — one for my own 
personal expenses, one for the house, and one for provisions. 
Paying cash keeps me making change all the time, but I'm im- 
proving a little teeny bit — don't you think I. am? 

William — Plenty of room for improvement, when it comes to 
financiering, you spoiled darling, you ! But you are late, as usual ! 

Mary — Coming, Billy, coming! Time it, and see if I don't 
put on my hat and veil two minutes and a half more quickly than 
I did before we were married ! 

William — I should hope so, child ! Uncounted hours have I 
waited for you, when I came a-courting. But now that I have 
taken you in hand, I want you to learn how to take care of the 
cash, as well as how to keep a cash account. Here is your pocket- 
book — one of your pocketbooks — in your work basket ! Now where 
do you keep it? 

Mary — O, that's the place for it — I mean one of the places. 
Don't vou see how methodical I am? 



6 TRAINING MARY 

['Fi7//a///— Methodical nothing! You have too man.v places, so 
yon never know where to look ! 

(Enter Mary in stylish hat, veil and rai)icoai.) 

Mary — Well, don't scold, Billy, there's a dear ! Don't you 
love me'just the same? (He kisses her admiringly.) 

Mary — (standing off critically) But your tie doesn't match 
your socks ! Shocking ! Blue tie and purple socks ! Why, you 
must be color-blind ; I shall have to take you in hand ! 

William— (ruefully) That so? Why, I thought they were a 
perfect match ! Well, never mind, we are a good match, anyway ; 
and besides, it was the only pair I could fimd in my drawer. 

Mary— It's something terrible, Billy, the way you go through 
your socks ! I shall have to ask your mother over to spend the 
day. She always asks for my darning bag, and I'm not slow about 
handing it to her. Well, are we off? (Squawk outside.) 

Mary — There goes the dumb waiter. Ice man! (Exit Mary.) 
O Billy, it's such a huge piece! I can't lift it! 

William — Don't try to when I'm around — but it's late for the 
office now! (Exit Williani, looking at his watch.) 

Mary— (entering) It's just child's play keeping house in an 
apartment, and Billy is such a help ! 

William — (outside) I've tipped over something in this con- 
founded ice-box! It's too full! 

Marv—0 
(Exit Mary.) 

(Enter William from left.) 

William — Trials of a householder ! Spots on my coat ! Dirt 
on my hands ! But no coal-dust on my collar, thank Heaven ! 
One advantage of life in an apartment! 

Mary — (outside) Dumb waiter again, Billy! 

M'^iliiam — Dumb waiter! I call it a — well, I won't say it! 
Change the vowel, that's all. I suppose this is the fish man. 

Mary — (entering) No, the garbage tin! How it squawks! 
Ask about the milk. 

(Exit William — outside) Hello, down there! Where did our 
milk bottles go? We haven't seen them today. 

(Voice from belozv) Some one must of took 'em. They 
ain't nowheres down here ! 

William— Well I like that! Stolen, eh? No milk! Say, 
look it up, will you, and next time watch out for Apartment 2F ! 

Mary — Two F. Jim says that stands for two fools. 

William — (entering) What does your brother Jim know 
about it? 

Mary — Nothing at all ! I think we're the most sensible young 
couple in the house. 

William — That's not saying much. But it's high time I was 
off, Mary. I can't wait to take in the morning paper, and the fish, 
and the gas-bill, and the laundry man. O, by the way, when the 
man from the laundry does put in an appearance, ask him for 



TRAINING MARY 7 

that sleeve he tore out of my new pajamas. Goodbye! {lie kisses 
her and rushes off, ealUng haek) : Remember, it's cash and carry, 
so don't try to liring home a turkey ! 

Mary — No, I won't, Billy! I thought I'd get a swordilish to- 
day. Dont forget, Brother Jim is coming to dinner tonight. 
{Mary runs to zvindozv and thrones kisses till he is out of 
sight.) 

Mary — Where did I lay my pocketbook? O yes. right here 
in my raincoat pocket where it belongs! I'm surely getting to be 
a wonder. Billy thinks he's training me when it's really I that 
am training him all the time and he doesn't suspect it. (Flies 
around, putting room in order as she talks.) Two fools, indeed! 
Why, every one says we are getting along wonderfully, keeping 
house in an apartment. And Billy is such a dear ! I know I've 
drawn a prize, and he's one of a thousand. We do have to be 
terribly economical, and I'm not used to that, but I'll show my 
father we can live on William's income, small as it is ! He 
thought we couldn't, I know he did, but we'll prove it to him ! 
Here's hoping black Pearl comes in time to cook the dinner ! It's 
fortunate she's honest. I never could lock up things. I'd lose 
the key a dozen times a day ! Well, one thing is sure, I must 
either tackle that old darning bag when I come home or go to 
that bargain sale at Handler's today and buy Billy some new 
socks to match his ties ! And the next time I telephone his 
mother, I will ask her to come over and spend the day ! 

(CURTAIN) 



* ^ 



Scene II. 

The following day — Mary and William at breakfast. 

Mary — I want you to appreciate Browning, Billy. Let mc read 
you this little bit, please do ! 

William — No, Mary, nothing doing ! You admit poets are 
born, not made; now it's just the same with lovers of poetry. I 
am not a lover of poetry. I am not even literary. I am practical. 
A^ou read the poetry yourself, there's a dear, and let me look at 
the morning paper. 

Mary — But, Billy, I thought we were going to have such 
lovely times reading together, and every single time we have tried 
it we have been interrupted. Don't you think we ought to culti- 
vate our minds? 

William — Certainly, love, if the tish man and the laundry man 
will ever let us! There's some one now. {Exit Mary, right.) 



8 TRAINING MA:gY 

It's too bad to disappoint the dear thing", but I'm a son of Martha, 
a toiler, and the only kind of poetry I care about is Kipling's. 

Mary — {entering with the coffee, wliich she pours) The 
laundry man ! 

William— This is nectar ht for the gods. Did Pearl make it? 

Mary — Pearl? Why, she doesn't come as early as this. 
Eight-hoiir plan, you know! No, I made it my own self. 

JVilliain — Did you make the popovers, too? 

Mary — I did. Chinaman's rule! Ever hear it? "You takee 
him one' egg, one lil' cup milk. You frxee him one cup flour on 
sieve, takee pinch salt— you not put him in lump— you move him 
egg lil' bit slow — you put him milk in— all time move. You makee 
hTm flou' go in— not too fast, so have no spots. Makee buttled 
pan all same wa'm, not too hot. Puttee him in oven — now you 
mind you business. No like woman run look at him all time. 
Him done all same time biscuit." 

WiUiani— But ought you to make them with eggs a dollar a 
dozen? 

Mary — O, now you think I'm extravagant. Are we living too 
well? Didn't you say you wanted liacon and eggs for breakfast 
and let the old' budget go hang? Those were your very words! 

William — My fault then ! No one but myself to blame ! But 
it's costing us a pretty penny all the same. (Ring. Goes to door, 
right.) Ah, the gas bill! How much? Have we burned all that? 
Well, see if I can make change ! O Mary, let me have a fiver 
from your house fund, will you? (.-^side) Hasn't she missed her 
pocketbook yet? 

Mary — (rising and bringing pocketbook) Here it is, two two's 
and a one. Put it down now, so we won't get mixed up in our 
accounts. 

William — (astonished, pays man, and comes back to table, but 
looks aghast) Why, Mary, where did you— I thought I— what the 
Dickens ! 

Alary — How strangely you act, Billy ! What in the world is 
the matter? 

William— Js this your pocketbook, Mary? No fooling! 

Mary — Of course it is! Why do you ask? 

William — The same one you took to the city in your raincoat 
pocket? 

Mary — The very same! Why? 

William — Then what in thunder is this? (Produces its coun- 
terpart from his coat pocket.) 

Mary — How should I know? Where did you get it? 

William— I thought it was yours. I saw it sticking out of 
your raincoat pocket when you were in front of Handler's window 
yesterday, and I took it, to teach you a lesson ! 

Mary — To teach me a lesson! Are you crazy? 

William — No, I'm a l^lamed fool — I'm a pickpocket — a thief — 
I've robbed another woman! 



TRAINING MARY 9 

Mary — (). what a joke on you! 

irnliaiii — Joke? Is that what you call a joke? It's dead 
j^erious, 1 tell you! How can you laugh? What shall I do 
about it? 

l/ary— Well, open it and see what's inside — a lot of money! 
Whew ! Ten tens ! Too much for any woman to carry around ! 
I'm not sure but she deserved to lose it! 

IFilliam — She didn't lose it, I tell you. I — stole it! 

Mary — Trying to teach me to be more careful ! O, this is 
rich! Isn't there any card in it? I always carry a card in mine. 
No, a ticket to Portland, Maine — samples of blue serge — a glove- 
cleaning check — a snap-shot— a powder puff, two keys, and that's 
all ! 

U'illiaiii — What a scrape! This is the limit! {Gestures of 
dcsfair. ) 

Mary — But, Billy, you must advertise at once. ITi write an 
ad, and you must take it to the papers on your way to the office. 
What shall I say? {Scats herself at desk and f^oises pencil in 
air. ) 

Williaiii — Thief who picked lady's pocket desires to_ restore 
stolen property. No questions asked — I mean — no questions an- 
swered. 

Mary—O no, dear, it's very sirtiple. Don't give yourself away 
like that! (urites) Man— no, Found! Black lady's pocketbook ! 
No, Lady's black pocketbook, containing sum of money. Call at 
13 Lotus Avenue, Apartment 2F, this evening, and prove property. 
There! Did vou reallv think vou w^ere taking it out of my pocket,- 
Billy? 

Uilliam — Of course I did. It was a purple raincoat, just like 
yours. 

.liarv— Only mine is l)lue. I told you you were color-blind. 
That proves it. 

Wiltiain — But you were there. I saw you. 

Mary — Yes, I was there, but I didn't know you were. Why, 
it's just come to me. It must have been that pretty girl standing 
next to me ! She was perfectly correct, from her hat to her shoe 
tips, simply dressed, but in good taste. I was watching her and 
wondering' where I had seen her. She looked like a college girl- 
awfully sweet and attractive! Oh, the poor thing! She may be a 
stranger in the city, and absolutely penniless ! O Billy, how 
could you? 

IVilliani—l couldn't— I wouldn't — I shouldn't ! This is the 
worst muddle ! 

{Enter Brother Jim) 

James Strong— \W hat's up now, Newlyweds? Quarreling al- 
readv? 

Mar\ — O Jim, listen to the tragedy! This is a tine husband 
I have!' He thinks he must show his little-girl-Dora of a wife 
how to take care of her money, so he ups and snatches her pock- 



10 TRAINING AiARV 

etbook while she's looking the other way, and takes— not hers at 
all, but this, from a nice, sweet girl standing next to me, and we 
don't even know the ifirst letter of her name ! 

James Stroufi— Well, of all the^Billy, old man, I didn't think 
it of you! Training your wife, are you? I must say I'm sorry 
for you if you expect to make a 'financier out of Mary. I know 
Mary. 

Mary — James, how can you he so heartless and cruel? Do I 
pick pockets and steal a hundred dollars trying to reform my hus- 
band? He is the one to bite the dust. 

William — O, I'm biting the dust, and I don't like the taste of it! 

James Strong — Brace up, old man! I'll go with you, and we'll 
put an ad. in every paper in town, and Mary can spend the day 
answering calls from damsels in distress. 

(CURTAIN) 

Scene III. 

Teacher's Ageney. Office with desk, chairs and telephone. 

Curtain rises on Miss Dickinson, seated at desk, telephoning. 

Miss Dickinson — Yes. This is Miss Dickinson. Yes — at the 
Teacher's Agency. Well, if you will call sometime later in the 
day, we will talk the matter over. 

{Enter Doris Eldridge, rather dejectedly.) 

Doris — Good morning, Miss Dickinson; is there anything for 



me 



Miss Dickinson — Not yet. Miss Eldridge {looking oi^er pa- 
pers), but here's a blank for you to fill out. There may be some- 
thing in the mail, but the teachers' positions are pretty well 'filled 
this year. 

Doris — So it seems, but I thought I'd just inquire. 

Miss Dickinson — Well, sit down and wait — there may be some- 
thing — you never can tell ; that's the bright side of this business — 
always possibilities ahead ! 

{Enter Miss Henneberry, primmest of the prim, elderly, but 
posing as youthful. They exchange greetings politely.) 

Miss Henneberry — I come to you. Miss Dickinson, in the hope 
of a change from my present position, which is wholly unsatis- 
factory, being, in fact, far beneath my powers. 

Miss Dickinson — Kindly fill out this blank, Miss Henneberry, 
and I will see what can be done for you. (Aside) I hope I won't 
call her Huckleberry ! 

Miss Henneberry — Teachers are not as well treated as they 
were forty years ago. I can recall, even in my time, and I am 



TRAINING MARY 11 

still young", when it was an honor to l)c a teacher, and we were 
deferred to and highly esteemed hy every one in the comnuinity — 
but times have changed! (Sighs and rolls her eyes.) Look at 
me, with my record of forty years of service, pushed from i)illar 
to post, and obliged to come to an agency in search of a position 1 

Miss Dickinson— That, Miss Henneberry, is the way teachers 
are secured in this day and generation. It is no disgrace to come 
to a teachers' agency. It is a business proposition. 

Miss Henneberry — All well enough for the inexperienced, Miss 
Dickinson, but for me, who number senators and governors among 
my pupils, I cannot help thinking — has it come to this ? Has it 
come to this ? 

(Enter James Strong of Moniair.) 

James Strong — (addressing Miss DicL-inson) Good morning! 
I have come for an assistant for our High School at Montair, 
Aliss Dickinson, in the History department. Have you any bright, 
particular stars for my ^firmament? 

Miss Dickinson — Experienced? (Miss Henneberry starts for- 
li'ard.) 

James Strong — No, no, not necessarily. I w^ant a young 
woman, rather attractive, who is enthusiastic and will wake up the 
dull boys. We are quite progressive in Montair. The last teacher 
was dry, prosy — a back number, you see ! 

Miss Dickinson — (/// a low I'oice) We have one, just ap- 
plied, if not too young. (Calling Miss Eldridge) ^ Would you like 
to apply for a position in Montair? (Introduces them.) 

Doris — (K'carily) How far it is from Boston? 

James Strong — About fifty miles. 

Doris — What salary do you pay? 

James Strong — (Aside — Ah, mercenary young lady!) That 
depends. May I ask you a few questions. 

Doris — Certainly, but I have answered a good many in this 
application blank. I suppose you want to know my favorite au- 
thor ; how many fillings in my teeth, and whether or not I vote 
the Republican ticket. I go to the Episcopal church, so you see I 
am quite respectable, and I can show you my diploma from Rad- 
cliffe, but I have only taught one year, in Pentasket. 

James Strong — May I ask why you left Pentasket? 

Doris — Yes, you may ask, but it's quite a long story. I wanted 
a larger salary for one thing. I must have a larger salary. Do 
I have to tell you why? Do I have to tell you the whole family 
history? Must I confide in you how many sisters are partially de- 
pendent on me, and that I have a younger brother whom I hope 
to send through college? 

James Strong — O no, my dear young lady, compose yourself. 
We will pay a fair salary to anyone who will fill the position satis- 
factorily (glancing over papers). You have excellent recommen- 
dations, I see. I also see that you have an unflattering opinion 



12 TRAINING MAf^Y 

of us poor school superintendents, and think we are an in(iuisi- 
tive lot. 

Doris — {zviih spirit) I don't think it, I know it. Didn't I 
have a date with one the other day, and he told me the whole 
story of his life as well as wanting to know mine! He kept me 
waiting half a day and made me lose another chance, and come 
to find out, he had already engaged another teacher. He just 
wanted to hear himself talk. 

James Strong — Or possibly to hear you — but I blush for him. 

Doris — Ask the boys at Pentasket if I can teach history. We 
had a pageant — a historical pageant — the whole neighborhood 
turned out! 

James Strouij — Oh, you did? I heard about that pageant. 
Did you write it? 

Doris — No, I — well, I helped the boys write it. I gave a prize 
for the best one, and I rehearsed them and coached the girls, of 
course. It was a beautiful pageant and they made a lot of money, 
and one of my best pupils took the prize. 

James Strong — Hard work, wasn't it? 

Doris — O yes ; such things are, you know. 

James Strong — I am only asking one more question, Aliss Eld- 
ridge; please take notice. Whv are vou teaching? Do vou 
like it? 

Doris — O, I love it; I adore it! But it isn't just for love. I 
need the money, -too. You may think I am mercenar}- — I can see 
you do. Well, I'm not, but the truth is, I — I don't know why 
I'm telling you— a perfect stranger — but I lost my pocketbook 
yesterday, with a lot of money in it ! I was going to buy pres- 
ents for everyone at home. It was all I had saved from last 
year's salary, and I haven't a cent ! How would you like it, to 
lose a hundred dollars if it was every cent you had? Wouldn't 
you be mercenary? 

James Strong — {Aside — Can it l^e hers Billy helped himself 
to?) It is certainly a great misfortune, my dear Miss Eldridge, 
and I would gladly be of some assistance to you, if I could. 
Cheer up. you may find it yet ! Look in the "Lost and Found" 
column of every paper. Here, I have one in my pocket now ! 
Have you advertised? 

Doris — No, I haven't a cent to pay for advertising. How 
could I? It's no use! I know I. shall never see that money again, 
never ! Perhaps I'm careless, but I had it in my raincoat pocket. 
James Strong — {Aside — She's the very one!) In your raincoat 
pocket, you say ? 

Doris — Yes, Mr. Strong, is that surprising? Don't men carry 
money in their pockets? 

James Strong — O, certainly, certainly! {Agitated) But it's 
such a strange coincidence ! I happened to see a notice in this 
very paper of a lady's pocketbook found. {Shows her the ad.) 

Doris — {Joyfully) What if it should happen to be mine? 



TRAINING MARY 13 

(Reads it aloud.) Oh, it may be— my hundred dollars! Thank 
you so much for suggesting the paper! I think it is very kind 
of you to take such an interest. 

James Strong — I can't help it — I mean I — yes, I am very 
happy to be of some assistance, and I advise you by all means 
to follow up this clue. Oh, but I haven't engaged you yet. I am 
authorized to offer you the position at Montair, with a salary of 
twelve hundred dollars. Will you consider it? 

Doris — Thank you, ^Fr. Strong; if you are satisfied with my 
recommendations and attainments, I will accept it without fur- 
ther consideration. I will try to wake up the dull boys as you 
wish. When does the term begin? 

James Strong — The second Monday in September. Montair 
is on the B. and A.' I would send you a time-table if I knew 
your address. 

Doris — 1 am staying at a friend's, but m}^ home address is on 
the blank — you see, Portland, Maine. 

James Strong — We find some of our best teachers in Maine. 
I hope you will be happy in our High School. I will meet you 
at whatever train you may designate. 

Doris — That is very kind of you, Mr. Strong. Goodbye till 
then ! And thank vou, too, Miss Dickinson. Goodlive ! 

(Exit Doris.) '.'... 

James Strong bids Miss Dickinson good morning, and says 
aside — I must say it would suit me if the term began tomor- 
row. She's a star, if I'm any judge. An ideal teacher! This is 
my lucky dav ! 

(CURTAIN) 



Scene IV. 

IJving room of Apartment 2F. 

(Brother Jim, seated near door, reading pat>er.) 

(Enter Mary, in long-sleeved apron, which she reinoz'es mid 
ties around him, saying) Will you please crack some ice for me, 
Brother Jim? This is Pearl's afternoon out. 

(Bell rings. Exit Mary, calling over her shoulder) Billy is 
helping me cook the dinner. He can cook steak better than I 
can. You'll have to answer the bell, Jim ! 

James Strong — All right, Mary, make me useful. (Opens door, 
right. Sweet voice outside.) 

Doris — Is this Apartment 2F? 

(Jim starts hack, embarrassed, and tears off apron.) 



14 TRAIXIXG ATARV 

James Strou(j—h is. Won't yon come in? O, Miss Eldridge— 
excuse me ! 

(Enter Doris. She hesitaies and exclaims) You, "Sir. Strong! 
I don't understand ! There must be some mistake. I didn't know 
you lived here ! 

James Strong — No, I don't — that is— I'm helping Mary, you 
see! Sit down and I'll call her. It's all right. {She still hesi- 
tates) You needn't be afraid. Miss Eldridge, I'm no ogre, only 
this is cook's afternoon out, and Mary asked me to cack the rice 
— I mean crack the ice — Where the Dickens is my coat? O Mary, 
Mary! (Exit, left.) 

Doris — So he is a married man ! What made me think he 
was a bachelor? What will his Mary be . like, I wonder? It 
seems to me he acts rather strangely. 

(Enter Mary) Good evening, Aliss ? 

Doris — "Eldridge." I came to inquire about a pocketbook I 
lost. Did you advertise finding one? (Produces paper.) 

Mary— Yes, indeed, my husband did find one, and I hope it 
will prove to be yours. But would you mind saying what there 
was in it, just to see if it really is the right one, you know? 

Doris — Of course not ! There were ten ten-dollar bills, a lit- 
tle change, a ticket to Portland, and some .samples. Let me see ! 
I think that is all — O, my latch key and trunk key, too ! 

Mary — Correct, Miss Eldridge ; you have mentioned every- 
thing, except the powder puff, and proved property. I am so glad 
we were the ones to Ifind it, and not some dishonest person ! 

(Enter James Strong. Aside) Dishonest! 

Doris — O, so am I ! It was awfully kind of you to advertise, 
and I do thank you more than you can guess. To tell the truth, 
it was every cent I had, and I was in the depths of despair when 
your — husband — advised me to look in the paper — he w^as so sorry 
for me ! 

Mary — You mean Mr. Strong? You have met before, then? 

James Strong — I had the pleasure of meeting Miss Eldridge 
this morning at the Agency. 

Mary — (Looking at Doris intently) Eldridge! Your first 
name isn't Doris, is it? And were you at Radcliffe three years 
ago? I have seen you before. I am sure. 

Doris — And I remember you. Did you have a sister in my 
class— Miriam Strong? Can it be you are Miriam Strong's sister 
Mary? Why, we were at commencement together — don't you re- 
member ? 

(They clasp hands cordially.) 

Mary — I surely do. And you are her room-mate, Doris Eld- 
ridge! Well, isn't this the greatest good fortune? Now you must 
take ofif your hat and stay to dinner. It is cook's afternoon 
out, but never mind ! What a reunion we will have one of these 
davs, when Miriam comes to visit me! Where do you live? 



TRAINING MARY 15 

Doris — In Portland ; but I expect to be in Montair this winter, 
so I shall see your sister if she still lives there. I am going to 
teach in the High School. Your husl)ancl engaged me this morn- 
ing. 

Mary — My husband ? O, you mean my Ijrother Jim ! Well, 
aren't you the lucky girl? My brother is the most fastidious crea- 
ture. He expects a teacher to be a paragon of perfection. It's 
ludicrous for him to l)e a school superintendent at all, not being 
a married man and the father of a family. We all tease him 
about it, but he's a perfect crank on the subject of education! 

Doris — Oh, I do hope I shall make good ! I accepted his 
offer with fear and trembling. 

Mary — {With a meaning glance) I think you will please 
him. But frankly, now, it isn't every girl that does. He's a con- 
firmed bachelor. (Sniffs.) I smell the meat burning. (Exit 
Mary, left.) 

James Strong — {Coming forward) So we are all old friends! 
And you thought Mary was my wife? 

Doris — How should 1 knov/ there was a Billy in the back- 
ground? Is it he that is cooking the meat? He must be one of 
a thousand I 

{Enter William, flushed and perspiring.) 

James Strong — You'll find he's very much in the foreground. 
Miss Eldridge. Allow me to present Mr. William W^arner. 
(Formal introductions.) 

William — And allow me to present the missing pocketbook ! 

Doris — O, thank you so much, Mr. Warner; was it you who 
found it? 

James Strong — Come, let's explain this mystery! Miss Eld- 
ridge doesn't know yet how you came to be in possession of her 
property. 

Doris — So there is a mystery, after all ! 

William — Well, I suppose I might as well "'fess up" first as 
last. Heaven knows I'm as innocent as a babe and as truthful as 
George Washington, so I'll make a clean breast of it. Be it 
known that I deliberately abstracted your pocketbook from your 
raincoat pocket. 

Doris — You took it? What can you mean? 

William — Yes, I am training Mary to be more careful, and 
not go around with her purse sticking half out of her pocket, 
putting temptation in the way of pickpockets. 

Mary — (Entering) Like you, Billy? 

William — Yes, like me if you will. I thought I would teach 
her a lesson. You must have been standing beside her in the 
crowd, and I got my hand into the wrong pocket, that's all ! Will 
you forgive me? I have repented in sackcloth and ashes. 

Mary — A very natural mistake, surely — see, our pocketbooks 
are exactly alike. (Produces hers, after hunting for it.) 



16 TRAINING MAlf\" 

Doris — ^So they are! Isn't that the queerest thing? No won- 
der you thought you were reforming your wife ! But I couldn't 
say with Shakespeare, ''Who steals my purse steals trash", could 
I ? O, I am so grateful to you all ! 

William — Then I am forgiven?. 

Doris — Yes, you have my full and free forgiveness. But how 
about your wife? Has she forgiven you for trying to make her 
over? Begging your pardon — I ask for information — is it neces- 
sary for married life to be a kind of training school like that? 
I'm just wondering! 

William — There shall be no more of it in this family, I prom- 
ise you ! No reforming on either side, remember ! I give you up 
as a ifinancier, and you must not expect me to listen to poetry — 
that is, any but Kipling's. Is it a compact? (They shake hands 
and exeunt, left.) 

James Strong — That sounds quite ideal, when both agree to it, 
and when there's love enough on both sides — as there must be, 
when the girl I have fallen in love with consents to marry me. 
(Advances towards Doris.) 

Doris — You don't mean me, do you? Why, I'm engaged 

James Strong — Engaged? Why didn't you tell me before? 

Doris — You didn't let me finish my sentence. I'm engaged to 
teach history in the Montair High School. 

James, Strong— 1 will release you from that engagement. 

Doris — But I don't want to be released. Teaching is my pro- 
fession, and I am ambitious to excel in it. I am not looking for 
a husband. 

James Strong — Perhaps not, but I am looking for a wife, since 
I met you — not before — and I want you to be Airs. James Strong. 

Doris — Isn't this rather sudden, Mr. Strong? 

James Strong — Sudden or not, I knew the first time I heard 
your voice that I had met my fate. 

Doris — And you won't try to make me over? 

James Strong — No — nor you me? 

Doris — Do you really like me just the way I am? 

James Strong — It seems to me you are one of a thousand — 
the girl of my dreams ! 

Doris — Well, you can hardly expect me to say yes to — yet — 
but — if you really are as good as you look, I might, some time, say 
yes to this ofifer too. 

(He kisses her hand with a lozv bozv.) 

(CURTAIN) 



NEW HIGH SCHOOL PLAYS 



ALONG CAME BUD— 

for 4 boys and 2 girls. Bud, quite inno- 
cently causes a lot of trouble, but all ends 
well v/hen Bud comes along. Price 25c. 

CLARENCE DECIDES— 

is for 4 males and 6 females, and is a 
very clever comedy. All kinds of funny 
situations are introduced. Price 35c. 

THE CAPTAIN'S PREDICAMENT— 

a rattling good farce for 3 males and 4 
females. Lots of fun. Price, 35 cents. 

LOST— THE WHOLE CROWD AND 
THE PARROT— 

a farce in which many amusing complica- 
tions aiise. Plays whole evening. 8 
males and 5 females. Price, 35 cents. 

POLLY LOU— 

a new Gladys Bridgham farce in which 
there is plenty of action and an interest- 
ing plot. 6 males; 8 females. Price 35c. 

THE VISITING SMITHS— 

a short sketch telling how the Smithes 
Corner Smiths descended on the New 
York Smiths for a visit. Price, 25 cents. 

THE CONVERSION OF PA. 
THE TRIALS OF EZRA— 

two nev/ Agricultural Extension plays. 
Each, 25 cents. 



Eldridge Entertainment House 

Franklin, Ohio, also 944 S. Logan, Denver, Colo. 




fll r k ^015 9: 

flays tor Amateurs 

By SEYMOUR S. TIBBALS 



910 124 1 4 



Mr. Tibbals has won a wide reputation as 
the writet of plays for amateurs that have 
dramatic action, bright dialog and clean 
and wholesome plots. Among the most 
successful of these are 

Somewhere In France; 4 m. 3 f 35c 

Sergeant Jim of the 

U.S. Marines; 7 m. 12 f 35c 

The Little Politician; 7 m. 3 f 35c 

Getting Even With Reggie; 5 m. 8 f . 35c 

At The Village Postoffice; ai*icters 35c 

The Man Haters; 11 f. 4 m.. 35c 

Vinegar's Vaudeville Agency; j^SJ^i,^, 35c 

The Millionaire Janitor; play for boys 35c 

In Dixie Land; male characters 35c 

Up Caesar's Creek; boys' play 35c 

Christmas Plays 

Christmas at Finnegan's Flat 25c 

Christmas at Golden Gulch 25c 

ELDRIDGE ENTERTAINMENT HOUSE 

FRANKLIN, OHIO, also 944 S. Logan, DENVER, COLO. 



